India's Reservation Policy a Disaster: Economist Jagdish Bhagwati to NDTV

In an exclusive interview, eminent economist Jagdish Bhagwati has termed India's reservation policy "a disaster" and said that the Prime Minister should focus on increasing non-quota seats in colleges. He added that Hardik Patel has become a 'heartache' Patel for the Prime Minister. Speaking to NDTV in New York ahead of Prime Minister Modi's visit, Prof Bhagwati said that though the Prime Minister had done good on social issues, "he has gone too slow on trade and foreign investment". He lashed out at Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman saying, "her training in trade is from JNU which is really a Nehru university, which is a fine campus for a variety of things but on trade, it is a locus classicus of all the anti-trade people." Prof Bhagwati also hit out at India's protectionist approach to trade saying there is no one in authority, "a bunch of bureaucrats who are well trained or the minister herself", who are going to say that "protectionism is generally not a good idea". He gave 7 on 10 to Prime Minister Modi's performance so far.